Craig Detweiler | Grand Canyon University (original) (raw)
Books by Craig Detweiler
Papers by Craig Detweiler
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2016
From Jesus to the Internet: A History of Christianity and Media. Peter Horsfield. Malden, Massach... more From Jesus to the Internet: A History of Christianity and Media. Peter Horsfield. Malden, Massachusetts: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015. 322 pp. 105hbk.105 hbk. 105hbk.34.95 pbk.Media scholars have long understood that the development of movable type enabled the Protestant Reformation, but broader historical scholarship on the role of media in the two millennia of Christianity has been episodic at best. That is, until now. With From Jesus to the Internet, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Communication Professor Peter Horsfield explains how media have facilitated transformations in Christianity, from the oral ministry of Jesus and his disciples to the social media use of today's churches. Horsfield's compelling and nuanced scholarship of integration traces the evolution of Christianity from an oral Jewish movement in the 1st century through epochs dominated by written, printed, electronic, and now digital media to become the world's largest religious faith with 2.2 billion followers. But adjusting to centuries of economic, legal, political, and media conditions changed Christianity's character. "While what presents itself as Christianity is a remarkably robust, adaptable, and energetic phenomenon, capable of significant good but also immense evil," Horsfield observes, "it has very little connection with the character, self-understanding, and mission of the Jewish Galilean man called Jesus."Neither Jesus nor his disciples left written records of their ministries, so most of what we know about Jesus comes from the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, all of which were written at least 40 years after the Romans crucified Jesus. Following the work of New Testament scholars John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg, Horsfield describes Jesus as lower class and illiterate, a charismatic Jewish preacher who associated with social outcasts and told stories and parables that challenged the well to do with messages of a righteous God who cared about justice for everyone. Parables and sayings of Jesus were circulated orally and ultimately recorded, but the Gospels appeared well after Paul claimed apostolic authority through visions of Christ and wrote letters that promoted a Hellenized Christianity which were copied and circulated among congregations. Indeed, the Gospels adapted Paul's perspective in framing the ministry of Jesus in terms of the Lord Jesus Christ, a Hellenistic title conceived to appeal to privileged citizens of the Roman Empire.Writing changed everything. Church leadership required literacy, turning what began as an inclusive movement among the underprivileged into an institution of hierarchy. The canon of authorized scriptures favored male leadership. The increasing use of Latin in the West solidified political and social power among a small educated elite, who protected their position and wealth through systems of secrecy, intimidation, and violence. …
©2010 Westminster John Knox Press First edition Published by Westminster John Knox Press Louisvil... more ©2010 Westminster John Knox Press First edition Published by Westminster John Knox Press Louisville, Kentucky 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1910 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, ...
This is a review of Avatar (2009).
Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, 2020
While the natural world may scare us, more frightening beasts arise when we neglect our calling t... more While the natural world may scare us, more frightening beasts arise when we neglect our calling to care for creation and “play god” via technology. From King Kong, Frankenstein, and Godzilla to recent films like The Babadook, The Shape of Water and Us, the most enduring monsters provoke humility, evoke empathy, and prompt us to love rather than fear. These holy terrors can offer an encounter with what Rudolf Otto famously called the mysterium tremendum.
Journal of Religion and Film, 2017
This is a book review of Terry Lindvall, J. Dennis Bounds and Chris Lindvall, Divine Film Comedie... more This is a book review of Terry Lindvall, J. Dennis Bounds and Chris Lindvall, Divine Film Comedies: Biblical Narratives, Film Sub-Genres, and the Comic Spirit, New York: Routledge, 2016. This book review is available in Journal of Religion & Film: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol21/iss1/31 Terry Lindvall, J. Dennis Bounds and Chris Lindvall, Divine Film Comedies: Biblical Narratives, Film Sub-Genres, and the Comic Spirit, New York: Routledge, 2016. Serious films demand thoughtful responses. Sight and Sound’s list of “The Greatest Films of All Time” is loaded with deep, complex, and probing explorations of the human condition. Oscar winners generally fall within a certain dramatic range: historical dramas of personal triumph amidst tragedies. The burgeoning field of religion and film has expanded understanding of what makes these kinds of pictures so moving. Our canon salutes high minded and rigorous religious films like Diary of a Country Priest (1951), The Seventh Seal (1...
Journal of Religion and Film, 2016
This is a review of Avatar (2009). This film review is available in Journal of Religion & Film: h... more This is a review of Avatar (2009). This film review is available in Journal of Religion & Film: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol14/iss1/11 Filmmaker James Cameron knows how to get us off the couch and into the theater. Avatar was a genuine IMAX-worthy event. It required spectacles to get the truly special effect. It now plays so much smaller at home, even on a Blu-Ray equipped, large-screen TV. Yet, such substantive profits make it a canary in a cinematic coalmine. Avatar has been followed by underwhelming 3D versions of Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, and Shrek. Will more desperate and unimaginative studio pandering follow? Is Avatar an empty headed spectacle that will fade in critical estimation over time or the harbinger of more potent stories to come? In its most exhilarating sequences, Avatar connects to the best of the silent film era. James Cameron extends the legacy of pioneering showmen like D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille. No dialogue was necessary t...
European Journal of Theology, 2020
RÉSUMÉL’auteur livre dans cet ouvrage une réflexion sociologique et théologique sur les selfies. ... more RÉSUMÉL’auteur livre dans cet ouvrage une réflexion sociologique et théologique sur les selfies. Il les considère comme participant à une recherche de Dieu via l’image de Dieu. L’accent sur l’écoute et la compréhension, ainsi que l’approche sociologique et historique constituent deux points forts du livre. Il faut malheureusement déplorer certaines faiblesses méthodologiques qui affectent sa réflexion théologique. L’ouvrage reste néanmoins utile par l’apport d’une réflexion sérieuse sur une pratique qui est désormais devenue une manière naturelle d’habiter le monde.ZUSAMMENFASSUNGCraig Detweiler bietet hier seine soziologischen und theologischen Betrachtungen über Selfies. Sein Ansatz sieht Selfies als Teil einer Suche nach Gott durch die Suche nach Gottes Ebenbild. Die zwei Stärken des Buches bestehen in der Fähigkeit, zuzuhören und zu verstehen, sowie in seinem soziologischen und historischen Ansatz. Leider schwächelt die Methode zuweilen, was die theologische Tiefe des Buches bee...
Choice Reviews Online, 2004
... lifies.” We put on a costume almost every day, whether we want to appear classy, sporty, casu... more ... lifies.” We put on a costume almost every day, whether we want to appear classy, sporty, casual ... think we “[stand] in a bright new dawn.”11 He doesn't answer the question but considers ... Russel Nye, a key figure in the development of popular cultural analysis as an academic field ...
The Heythrop Journal, 2011
Journal of Religion and Film, 2016
This is a review of Inception (2010). This film review is available in Journal of Religion & Film... more This is a review of Inception (2010). This film review is available in Journal of Religion & Film: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol14/iss1/18 In his Personal Journey through American Movies, Martin Scorsese described movie directors as smugglers. They are illusionists, experts at creating and sustaining a mood. Perhaps this is the enduring truth of movie magic; the ability to play a trick on the audience, before they discover how it was done. Christopher Nolan is a master magician, deftly un-spooling his stories through misdirection, leading us to collective ‘a-ha’ moments that light up the blogosphere. During a summer of slack sequels and prequels, Inception stood out as a truly original story. Director Christopher Nolan had already distinguished himself as the most original and exciting director of Generation X. From Memento to The Dark Knight, Nolan has explored the human psyche, especially our endless capacity for self-deception. His flawed characters are heroes in the...
Choice Reviews Online
Craig will give a lively talk on the symbols, or "iGods," of our distracted age to investigate th... more Craig will give a lively talk on the symbols, or "iGods," of our distracted age to investigate the impact of the technologies and cultural phenomena that drive us.
Christianity & Literature, 2009
Christianity & Literature
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2016
From Jesus to the Internet: A History of Christianity and Media. Peter Horsfield. Malden, Massach... more From Jesus to the Internet: A History of Christianity and Media. Peter Horsfield. Malden, Massachusetts: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015. 322 pp. 105hbk.105 hbk. 105hbk.34.95 pbk.Media scholars have long understood that the development of movable type enabled the Protestant Reformation, but broader historical scholarship on the role of media in the two millennia of Christianity has been episodic at best. That is, until now. With From Jesus to the Internet, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Communication Professor Peter Horsfield explains how media have facilitated transformations in Christianity, from the oral ministry of Jesus and his disciples to the social media use of today's churches. Horsfield's compelling and nuanced scholarship of integration traces the evolution of Christianity from an oral Jewish movement in the 1st century through epochs dominated by written, printed, electronic, and now digital media to become the world's largest religious faith with 2.2 billion followers. But adjusting to centuries of economic, legal, political, and media conditions changed Christianity's character. "While what presents itself as Christianity is a remarkably robust, adaptable, and energetic phenomenon, capable of significant good but also immense evil," Horsfield observes, "it has very little connection with the character, self-understanding, and mission of the Jewish Galilean man called Jesus."Neither Jesus nor his disciples left written records of their ministries, so most of what we know about Jesus comes from the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, all of which were written at least 40 years after the Romans crucified Jesus. Following the work of New Testament scholars John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg, Horsfield describes Jesus as lower class and illiterate, a charismatic Jewish preacher who associated with social outcasts and told stories and parables that challenged the well to do with messages of a righteous God who cared about justice for everyone. Parables and sayings of Jesus were circulated orally and ultimately recorded, but the Gospels appeared well after Paul claimed apostolic authority through visions of Christ and wrote letters that promoted a Hellenized Christianity which were copied and circulated among congregations. Indeed, the Gospels adapted Paul's perspective in framing the ministry of Jesus in terms of the Lord Jesus Christ, a Hellenistic title conceived to appeal to privileged citizens of the Roman Empire.Writing changed everything. Church leadership required literacy, turning what began as an inclusive movement among the underprivileged into an institution of hierarchy. The canon of authorized scriptures favored male leadership. The increasing use of Latin in the West solidified political and social power among a small educated elite, who protected their position and wealth through systems of secrecy, intimidation, and violence. …
©2010 Westminster John Knox Press First edition Published by Westminster John Knox Press Louisvil... more ©2010 Westminster John Knox Press First edition Published by Westminster John Knox Press Louisville, Kentucky 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1910 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, ...
This is a review of Avatar (2009).
Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, 2020
While the natural world may scare us, more frightening beasts arise when we neglect our calling t... more While the natural world may scare us, more frightening beasts arise when we neglect our calling to care for creation and “play god” via technology. From King Kong, Frankenstein, and Godzilla to recent films like The Babadook, The Shape of Water and Us, the most enduring monsters provoke humility, evoke empathy, and prompt us to love rather than fear. These holy terrors can offer an encounter with what Rudolf Otto famously called the mysterium tremendum.
Journal of Religion and Film, 2017
This is a book review of Terry Lindvall, J. Dennis Bounds and Chris Lindvall, Divine Film Comedie... more This is a book review of Terry Lindvall, J. Dennis Bounds and Chris Lindvall, Divine Film Comedies: Biblical Narratives, Film Sub-Genres, and the Comic Spirit, New York: Routledge, 2016. This book review is available in Journal of Religion & Film: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol21/iss1/31 Terry Lindvall, J. Dennis Bounds and Chris Lindvall, Divine Film Comedies: Biblical Narratives, Film Sub-Genres, and the Comic Spirit, New York: Routledge, 2016. Serious films demand thoughtful responses. Sight and Sound’s list of “The Greatest Films of All Time” is loaded with deep, complex, and probing explorations of the human condition. Oscar winners generally fall within a certain dramatic range: historical dramas of personal triumph amidst tragedies. The burgeoning field of religion and film has expanded understanding of what makes these kinds of pictures so moving. Our canon salutes high minded and rigorous religious films like Diary of a Country Priest (1951), The Seventh Seal (1...
Journal of Religion and Film, 2016
This is a review of Avatar (2009). This film review is available in Journal of Religion & Film: h... more This is a review of Avatar (2009). This film review is available in Journal of Religion & Film: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol14/iss1/11 Filmmaker James Cameron knows how to get us off the couch and into the theater. Avatar was a genuine IMAX-worthy event. It required spectacles to get the truly special effect. It now plays so much smaller at home, even on a Blu-Ray equipped, large-screen TV. Yet, such substantive profits make it a canary in a cinematic coalmine. Avatar has been followed by underwhelming 3D versions of Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, and Shrek. Will more desperate and unimaginative studio pandering follow? Is Avatar an empty headed spectacle that will fade in critical estimation over time or the harbinger of more potent stories to come? In its most exhilarating sequences, Avatar connects to the best of the silent film era. James Cameron extends the legacy of pioneering showmen like D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille. No dialogue was necessary t...
European Journal of Theology, 2020
RÉSUMÉL’auteur livre dans cet ouvrage une réflexion sociologique et théologique sur les selfies. ... more RÉSUMÉL’auteur livre dans cet ouvrage une réflexion sociologique et théologique sur les selfies. Il les considère comme participant à une recherche de Dieu via l’image de Dieu. L’accent sur l’écoute et la compréhension, ainsi que l’approche sociologique et historique constituent deux points forts du livre. Il faut malheureusement déplorer certaines faiblesses méthodologiques qui affectent sa réflexion théologique. L’ouvrage reste néanmoins utile par l’apport d’une réflexion sérieuse sur une pratique qui est désormais devenue une manière naturelle d’habiter le monde.ZUSAMMENFASSUNGCraig Detweiler bietet hier seine soziologischen und theologischen Betrachtungen über Selfies. Sein Ansatz sieht Selfies als Teil einer Suche nach Gott durch die Suche nach Gottes Ebenbild. Die zwei Stärken des Buches bestehen in der Fähigkeit, zuzuhören und zu verstehen, sowie in seinem soziologischen und historischen Ansatz. Leider schwächelt die Methode zuweilen, was die theologische Tiefe des Buches bee...
Choice Reviews Online, 2004
... lifies.” We put on a costume almost every day, whether we want to appear classy, sporty, casu... more ... lifies.” We put on a costume almost every day, whether we want to appear classy, sporty, casual ... think we “[stand] in a bright new dawn.”11 He doesn't answer the question but considers ... Russel Nye, a key figure in the development of popular cultural analysis as an academic field ...
The Heythrop Journal, 2011
Journal of Religion and Film, 2016
This is a review of Inception (2010). This film review is available in Journal of Religion & Film... more This is a review of Inception (2010). This film review is available in Journal of Religion & Film: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol14/iss1/18 In his Personal Journey through American Movies, Martin Scorsese described movie directors as smugglers. They are illusionists, experts at creating and sustaining a mood. Perhaps this is the enduring truth of movie magic; the ability to play a trick on the audience, before they discover how it was done. Christopher Nolan is a master magician, deftly un-spooling his stories through misdirection, leading us to collective ‘a-ha’ moments that light up the blogosphere. During a summer of slack sequels and prequels, Inception stood out as a truly original story. Director Christopher Nolan had already distinguished himself as the most original and exciting director of Generation X. From Memento to The Dark Knight, Nolan has explored the human psyche, especially our endless capacity for self-deception. His flawed characters are heroes in the...
Choice Reviews Online
Craig will give a lively talk on the symbols, or "iGods," of our distracted age to investigate th... more Craig will give a lively talk on the symbols, or "iGods," of our distracted age to investigate the impact of the technologies and cultural phenomena that drive us.
Christianity & Literature, 2009
Christianity & Literature
Journal of Aging, Humanities, and the Arts, 2009
Journal of Aging, Humanities, and the Arts, 2009